Word: outlet
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Many of the already battered retailers are howling about the growth of cut- rate competitors, who happen to include a number of their own suppliers. The 2,500 firms belonging to the National Shoe Retailers Association went on record against the proliferation of manufacturers' outlets; some are boycotting brands that have opened their own shops. "It's impossible to compete against them," complains association president William Boettge. For small stores, outlets are "making a tough business all the tougher," says John Cox, a recently retired shoe-shop owner in Lawrence, Kans., who saw his business drop more than 15% after...
...threatened by the new invaders, partly because they perceive the discount centers as out- of-the-way places, suitable mainly for tourists or big-haul shopping. Luxury department stores like Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue take an elitist approach -- at least publicly -- and shrug off the challenge from outlet malls. "The competition in retail is always fierce, but our customer is not attracted to an outlet mall," says Carol Sanger, vice president of the Federated and Allied Stores chain, which includes Bloomingdale's, Burdine's, A&S and Jordan Marsh. She may be wrong about that. "I'd much...
Then there's the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" approach. Sears and J.C. Penney have placed catalog outlet stores at the new discount malls. Upscale Ann Taylor has two clearance centers at megamalls. Even Saks opened its first outlet in Philadelphia's Franklin Mills. "Like it or not, it's the wave of the future," says Sid Mayer, Saks' senior vice president of merchandise liquidation. "Traditional department stores were in trouble anyhow. Discount malls are a necessary evil...
...shoppers, of course, they are a blessing, but not without some pitfalls. Service can be spotty to nonexistent. At Bass shoe outlets, for instance, the customer himself must find the right size shoes. Often the latest styles and fashions are not offered at outlets, and there may be a limited selection of sizes. Nor is getting a bargain guaranteed. Prices have edged up as yesteryear's bare-bones outlet stores full of seconds and irregulars have given way to today's fancy discount malls full of first-quality goods. "You need a good eye or you can still get ripped...
...dismay of other retailers, outlet stores are hot, just in time for Christmas and the recession. -- AT&T seeks to buttress its computer division with a hostile...